Stanback still wants to QB

IRVING, Texas – Former UW quarterback Isaiah Stanback still wants to be a quarterback. He’s a kick returner with the Dallas Cowboys, and he’s supposed to be a wide receiver, too, but a dislocated shoulder, among other things, has prevented him from cracking the lineup.

Even if he was completely healthy, the Cowboys are well-stocked with receivers, led by Terrell Owens and Roy Williams, acquired last month from the Lions. Stanback has not caught a pass since he had two receptions in the first game of the year against Cleveland.

Nonetheless, he appeared happy Tuesday afternoon when I spoke to him in the Cowboys’ locker room. He’s in his second year in the NFL and collecting a paycheck, so what’s not to like so far?

“It’s goin’ cool,” Stanback said. “There are a lot of guys ahead of me. I’ve just got to find a role.”

He dislocated his shoulder last year and did it again this year, and now he plans to have off-season surgery. Stanback, 24, said it doesn’t bother him.

I was surprised when he said he still wants to be a quarterback and thinks he could be a good one in the NFL. “But I’m under contract here to play receiver,” he said. “I’ll do what I’m supposed to do here.”

Stanback, who is in the second year of a four-year contract, also said of his future as a quarterback: “I don’t think it will (happen here).”

Then, of course, I brought up his former team, the Huskies.

“It’s rough, it’s hard, man,” Stanback said. “They’ve got to stop making the schedule so darn tough. Most of the big teams around the country schedule lesser-talented opponents to get the momentum rolling.”

Asked specifically about his former coach, Tyrone Willingham, Stanback said: “When you find out your coach is not going to be around anymore, you lose all motivation to play.”

He watched part of the Apple Cup. Asked for his thoughts on the game, Stanback said: “Terrible. Anytime you lose to Washington State, it’s terrible, I don’t care what year it is. I hate losing to them.”

CHILLIN’ WITH TANK: Truly, I had not planned to ask Cowboys backup defensive tackle Tank Johnson any questions about pit bulls or guns…well, OK, maybe one or two, but it didn’t matter, the former Husky wasn’t in the mood to talk to reporters Tuesday afternoon.

He shooed everyone away, but I asked him a question anyway.

“Are you answering Husky questions?” I asked.

“I’m not answering any Husky questions,” said Johnson, 26.

“Did you watch the Apple Cup?” I asked.

“That’s a Husky question,” he said.

End of interview.

COMING THURSDAY: Owner Jerry Jones talks about his Cowboys, his new $1.2 billion stadium and whatever else he wants to talk about when I sit down with him Wednesday morning at Texas Stadium.